# US 10,119,658 B2 · Aqueous flow improver formulation for refined products

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- Number: US 10,119,658 B2
- Document ID: US10119658B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/105,277
- Filed: 2014-12-09
- Published: 2016-10-27
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-18
- Assignees: Liquidpower Specialty Products Inc.
- Applicants: Liquidpower Specialty Products Inc.
- Inventors: Lu Sun
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119658B2

## CPC

- F17D 1/17: by mixing with another liquid {, i.e. diluting}
- C08J 3/05: from solid polymers
- C08K 5/32: Compounds containing nitrogen bound to oxygen
- F17D 3/12: for injecting a composition into the line
- C08J 2300/12: Polymers characterised by physical features, e.g. anisotropy, viscosity or electrical conductivity
- C09K 2208/28: Friction or drag reducing additives
- F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

An aqueous drag reducer having the components of water, a hydrocarbon soluble rheology modifier and an ultra-high molecular weight polymer. This aqueous drag reducer is also soluble in hydrocarbons.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aqueous drag reducer comprising:
water;
an amine oxide rheology modifier that is soluble in hydrocarbons; and
a polymer that is soluble in the hydrocarbons and has a molecular weight greater than one million.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight greater than five million.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the aqueous drag reducer comprises a surfactant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the amine oxide rheology modifier has an alkyl chain greater than C14.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the amine oxide rheology modifier comprises: oleyl dimethyl amine oxide, stearyl dimethylamine oxide, cetyl dimethylamine oxide, myristyl dimethyl amine oxide, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, coco alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, decyl dimethyl amine oxide and alkyl dihydroxyethyl amine oxide or combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbons are refined hydrocarbons.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the aqueous drag reducer does not significantly change the viscosity of the hydrocarbons the aqueous drag reducer is injected into.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the aqueous drag reducer is soluble in the hydrocarbons at normal usage levels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The aqueous drag reducer of claim 8, wherein normal usage levels are less than 25 ppm of the polymer in the hydrocarbons.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
producing a suspension medium;
incorporating a polymer having a molecular weight greater than one million to the suspension medium to produce a suspension; and
adding a hydrocarbon soluble amine oxide rheology modifier to the suspension to produce an aqueous drag reducer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the suspension medium is made by mixing water and a surfactant.

### Claim 12

A method comprising:
mixing water and a surfactant to produce a suspension medium;
incorporating a polymer having a molecular weight greater than five million, to the suspension medium to produce a suspension;
adding an amine oxide rheology modifier that is soluble in a refined hydrocarbon to the suspension to produce an aqueous drag reducer; and
injecting the aqueous drag reducer into the refined hydrocarbon pipeline.